Conn. Lawmakers Push To Increase Legal Age To Operate Boat

“A 12-year-old is not developed and responsible enough to be operating a motorized powerboat,” Wong said.

State Rep. Steve Dargan, who co-chairs the Public Safety Committee, says he believes the legal age should be more in line with the age of eligibility to drive a car.

“I personally feel that age is too young to operate that sort of equipment,” Dargan said.

He says lawmakers will be looking to revise the law once they reconvene at the capital.

The push to revise the age comes after Greenwich High School junior Emily Fedorko was struck by the propeller of a boat towing her and another teen who were tubing. Police said it appeared the boat struck the girls after they fell off the tube and the boat driver turned around to get them.